Tie rods and ends - DIY job?

[e34.535i.sport]

I need to change my tie rods and the ends - seriously worn and seizing. Ball joints are absolutely shot.

I just want to know can i change these or do i need to get a shop to do it? I'd like to do it myself and then drive to a tracking place straight away and get them tracked in the right level, would this be ok?

If so any tips or hints on doing so would be great, as i'd really like to take this one on. Thanks.

John.

[Ross]

Yep, strictly a nuts and bolts job. Replace your entire arm with the ball joint in it and you save lots of time and get a new bushing as well. Wheel alignment will be needed when finished.
The procedure is well cover here many times.

[E34-520iSE]

Yep, strictly a nuts and bolts job. Replace your entire arm with the ball joint in it and you save lots of time and get a new bushing as well. Wheel alignment will be needed when finished.
The procedure is well cover here many times.
Yep, swap the whole arm out, it's much easier & quicker. Unbolt and knock the old one off, measure the distance from pin to pin, then set the new one to the same length and lock the pinch bolts up. Fit the new one and tighten up the self locking nuts. Get the alignment checked with the $$ you saved in labour charges. Better still, do both sides at the same time!

HTH,

Shaun M

[glen-sj]

I need to change my tie rods and the ends - seriously worn and seizing. Ball joints are absolutely shot.

I just want to know can i change these or do i need to get a shop to do it? I'd like to do it myself and then drive to a tracking place straight away and get them tracked in the right level, would this be ok?

If so any tips or hints on doing so would be great, as i'd really like to take this one on. Thanks.

John.

Pretty straight forward if replacing with complete tie rod ends. I did it last year on my 92 525. Took my time and complete the replacement in about 4 hours and took it to an alignment shop. Follow the directions from this website - http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/maintenance/steering/steering_link.htm

Very useful information.

Good Luck.

[e34.535i.sport]

Hey i'v bought the whole units and going to put them in now!!!! Just wandering, should i put anti-seize grease on the threads to avoiding seizing in the future? Seems like the sensible thing to do but thought i'd check???!!!!

[E34-520iSE]

Hey i'v bought the whole units and going to put them in now!!!! Just wandering, should i put anti-seize grease on the threads to avoiding seizing in the future? Seems like the sensible thing to do but thought i'd check???!!!!
No reason why not - I covered the threads and pinch bolts on mine with grease last year when I replaced them.

HTH,

Shaun M

[e34.535i.sport]

:D I've done it!!!! Piece of piss, no problems, 2 and a half hours from wheels off to wheels on. :D

I put anti-seize on thanks for the response! Now to get the tracking done and see how far out i put it!!!!

I'll have to do a write up on this job, really enjoyed the experience.

Thanks again guys. :D

[g7syw]

should i put anti-seize grease on the threads to avoiding seizing in the future? Seems like the sensible thing to do but thought i'd check???!!!!

Don't know anyone elses opinion, but I usually put a thin smear of copperslip onto the taper and the threads when I reassemble them.

[E34-520iSE]

Well done mate!:) so what are you going to do next?

Cheers,

Shaun M

[e34.535i.sport]

Cheers! I was looking forward to a rest after the recent DIY mechanics but i've got noises coming from the front and back still, doing my head in!!!!

The front can only be the thrust arm balljoints, due to the sound over bumps and the wheel wobble (already done control arms so not them). Thats the first on my list, really want to get it out of the way. I'm hoping the front end is sorted then. Going for parts tomorrow, then going to press them in tuesday using a press i found in work, then replace the arms wednesday evening.

The noise from the back i'm assuming is the trailing arm bushes as i have replaced the sub bushes/pitmans/stab links. I'm just going to search around for info on this job, as i'm hoping i wont have to take it to a shop and pay ridiculous labour charges.

Fingers crossed!

[leicesterboy15]

I've done it!!!! Piece of piss, no problems, 2 and a half hours from wheels off to wheels on.

Nice one! Did you buy the parts from a dealer? Is it worth spending the extra on BMW parts for this? The rods look pretty simple to me, theres about £120 difference between BMW and GSF, thats a big difference for something that looks relatively simple. What do you think?

Any tips on the ball joints? Do you need the scissor type ball joint remover or do you just undo the bolts? Can you do the job with the wheels on (ie ramps) or does it have to be on stands? I got my lower and upper arms done but the steering wheel is off centre and the 50mph wobble is still there (only now its at 60mph and you can drive out of it) but at least the suspension no longer clatters over bumps! I went to get the alignment done and they told me the adjusters were to rusty so I need to replace them before I can get it aligned. Hopefully that will fix my wheel wobble! HOPEFULLY!

[e34.535i.sport]

Nice one! Did you buy the parts from a dealer? Is it worth spending the extra on BMW parts for this? The rods look pretty simple to me, theres about £120 difference between BMW and GSF, thats a big difference for something that looks relatively simple. What do you think?

Any tips on the ball joints? Do you need the scissor type ball joint remover or do you just undo the bolts? Can you do the job with the wheels on (ie ramps) or does it have to be on stands? I got my lower and upper arms done but the steering wheel is off centre and the 50mph wobble is still there (only now its at 60mph and you can drive out of it) but at least the suspension no longer clatters over bumps! I went to get the alignment done and they told me the adjusters were to rusty so I need to replace them before I can get it aligned. Hopefully that will fix my wheel wobble! HOPEFULLY!

I bought themfrom a place called eurocarparts in manchester as i'm on a tight budjet at the moment!!! You can get varying quality parts there i.e lemforder etc (they on the internet too), and i've found them to be great for me so far. My steering feels a lot better since (i got it aligned straight after!), so hopefully yours will too!

I used the scissor type again for the ball joints, made short work of them. If i'm honest though i bet you could have knocked mine out with a 2lb hammer as they weren't in too tight. Its a very simple job, i just jacked one side up and put a stand under, the took the two nuts off the ball joints and got the seperator on them. then measure up the new one tothe old one (tighten up the adjuster nuts) and then torque up the ball joint nuts. Done! Move on to the next side.

Let me know how it goes if you haven't done it already!!!!

[Ferret]

I bought themfrom a place called eurocarparts in manchester as i'm on a tight budjet at the moment!!!

Lol, did you visit the one that's about a mile from the Man U ground?

There's also a GSF in manchester, which is round the back of the trafford centre...

From the T Centre head away from the motorway (the industrial road out that runs behind selfridges and then out to the kelloggs factory), up onto the motorway link dual carriageway again head away from the motorway and it's off the first roundabout :)

I moved from manchester as a student 12 months ago, and used to work in the T Centre :D

[e34.535i.sport]

Hey thanks ferret, i didn't know about GSF and it turns out there's one right around the corner from me!!!! I'm in Liverpool you see, so its a bit of a pain heading to manchester when i need parts. How have you found them? Eurocarparts have served me well so far but they messed me about a bit with my thrust arms recently so i'll be glad to have another place to go to, especially with it being so close.

I wish i knew about GSF yesterday, the upper radiator hose went and i lost pretty much all of my coolant again (flushed it and replaced a different hose last week), marvelous. BMW didn't have one and cant get it until tues, euro cant get one until mon, so i'm off the road now. I dont want to risk taping it up temporarily as i'll have to fill it up with new coolant and i could loose all that again.

[Ferret]

Hey thanks ferret, i didn't know about GSF and it turns out there's one right around the corner from me!!!! I'm in Liverpool you see, so its a bit of a pain heading to manchester when i need parts. How have you found them? Eurocarparts have served me well so far but they messed me about a bit with my thrust arms recently so i'll be glad to have another place to go to, especially with it being so close.

GSF tends to be a tad more expensive... but the guys behind the counter know their **** - (hint: on a good day a ten minute chat with the guy behind the counter about random ****: weather, that nice vw outside that they own, etc... gets you access to their trade prices. Lol, dont do it if they've got a busy queue forming, it'll piss them right off :D ) I'd go to them any day over Euro Parts, quite often the euro parts guys are just till-trained monkeys that dont give a cr*p about knowing anything - they're just there to get their staff discount on parts for their riced out vw golfs etc...

[e34.535i.sport]

...the euro parts guys are just till-trained monkeys that dont give a cr*p about knowing anything...

I'm with you on that one!!! I'll be needing something for the back end soon so i'll give them a try - they'll be a damn site cheaqper than the dealer thats for sure! Cheers Ferret, happy motoring! :D

[Master Shake]

I need to change my tie rods and the ends - seriously worn and seizing. Ball joints are absolutely shot.

I just want to know can i change these or do i need to get a shop to do it? I'd like to do it myself and then drive to a tracking place straight away and get them tracked in the right level, would this be ok?

If so any tips or hints on doing so would be great, as i'd really like to take this one on. Thanks.

John.

As it is used in this thread, does "worn and seizing" mean that they would have really sticky spots when turning? Almost as if the steering locked in place for a second? I have this, and only in right hand turns. I also just discovered that my right side upper strut mount is broken. Not looking forward to replacing that bit. Already did the left as well as the struts.

Thanks for any help you may be able to offer on this folks.

[E34-520iSE]

It sounds to me like that broken upper mount is causing the drag in the steering. Worn tie rods create shudders and rattles when braking, not dragging when steering. Get it fixed then check everything else while the car's jacked up.

HTH,

Shaun M

[e34.535i.sport]

Well mine were all rusted and the threads were seriously worn. I assume they are difficult to adjust when it comes to tracking too. Oh and the ball joints were wobbling all over the place. I agree with E34-520iSE, i cant see the steering sticking during a turn because of worn tie rods.

Hope you sort it out soon!

[Master Shake]

OK. Got the new upper mount in. Almost all of the steering issue (locking) went away. Boy, all of the ball joints are toast. Thats the next job.

Anyone used the sets off of eBay? They for for like $300 for all ten pieces including pitman arm. I know they are not Lemfoerder quality, but I only put like 5K a year on this car.

I ran out of daylight and didnt have time to look at the swivel in the steering column as was suggested on this site in another post. I'll take a look at it tomorrow.

Thanks for all the input!

Ciao!

[e34.535i.sport]

OK. Got the new upper mount in. Almost all of the steering issue (locking) went away. Boy, all of the ball joints are toast. Thats the next job.

Anyone used the sets off of eBay? They for for like $300 for all ten pieces including pitman arm. I know they are not Lemfoerder quality, but I only put like 5K a year on this car.

I ran out of daylight and didnt have time to look at the swivel in the steering column as was suggested on this site in another post. I'll take a look at it tomorrow.

Thanks for all the input!

Ciao!

Hey, thats great... I'm thinking the stupid knocking noise i'm getting from the back could be one of the mounts, how hard is it to do, and where did you get your procedure? The one thing i'm afraid to mess with is the shock/spring/mounts...

[Master Shake]

I got my directions here. http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Maintenance/Suspension/Suspension_main.htmI have done the fronts several times. I did them, then realized the shop had sold me the wrong struts, took them out, reinstalled, then a month later the left front upper mount broke. Sigh...

I have not done the rears yet, but it seems to be a bit simpler. The upper mounts are a bit cheaper too. Good luck!

Heres another link I forgot I had. http://www.koalamotorsport.com/article-shakingoverbumps.asp

[leicesterboy15]

GSF tends to be a tad more expensive... but the guys behind the counter know their **** - (hint: on a good day a ten minute chat with the guy behind the counter about random ****: weather, that nice vw outside that they own, etc... gets you access to their trade prices.

Just been to my local GSF (Kingston), they guy in there runs a really nice e32 735iL so he knows a bit about these cars. Gave me some really good info, I can't recommend them highly enough! I got Lemforder tie rods ends and a fuel filter (which is massive!) for less that £50, he gave me better than trade prices without me even asking!

Super super guys, really know their stuff! And if they don't know they don't pretend to know which is quite rare these days!

[e34.535i.sport]

I got my directions here. http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Maintenance/Suspension/Suspension_main.htmI have done the fronts several times. I did them, then realized the shop had sold me the wrong struts, took them out, reinstalled, then a month later the left front upper mount broke. Sigh...

I have not done the rears yet, but it seems to be a bit simpler. The upper mounts are a bit cheaper too. Good luck!

Heres another link I forgot I had. http://www.koalamotorsport.com/article-shakingoverbumps.asp

Hey thanks, that was a very useful link. Can i just ask if i'm changing the mountings do i need a spring compressor or is it seperate once i have the shock out? I don't feel ready to take on a job of this proportion but i don't really have a choise... i think?!